Abel Ferreira’s Palmeiras against Lionel Messi and Luis Suárez’s Inter Miami, and Botafogo, current champion of the Copa Libertadores and the Brazilian Championship, measuring forces with European forces Paris Saint-Germain and Atlético de Madrid.
The first edition of the new FIFA Club World Cup (International Football Federation), which takes place between June 15 and July 13, in the United States, is one of the main highlights of the 2025 sports calendar.
In order to accommodate the new sporting event on the calendar, the Campeonato Paulista and Brasileiro start earlier in 2025, on January 15 and March 29, respectively, with Palmeiras and Botafogo defending the titles won in the previous season.
As traditionally happens, the Copa São Paulo de Futebol Júnior opens the calendar, with 128 teams fighting for the champion cup. After five years, the decision returns to the Pacaembu stadium, with the renovations of the Allegra dealership finally completed.
This year is also the final stretch of the South American Qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup, with six rounds remaining to define the teams from the region that qualify for the tournament, which will be shared by the United States, Canada and Mexico.
Dorival Júnior’s Brazil currently occupies only fifth place in the table — the top six are guaranteed a place in the World Cup; the seventh will compete in the repechage — and has tough games ahead, in March, against Colombia (4th) and Argentina (1st).
In women’s football, England defends the Euro title, while Brazil tries to win the Copa América once again. The competitions will be in July and August, in Switzerland and Ecuador, respectively. There will also be the first edition of the women’s futsal World Cup, between November and December, in the Philippines.
In Formula 1, Brazil once again has a starter on the grid after eight years, with the debut of young Gabriel Bortoleto, 20, for Sauber.
The category will also see the arrival of seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton at Ferrari. McLaren, current constructors’ champion, with Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri, will try to prevent Red Bull’s Dutchman Max Verstappen from achieving his fifth drivers’ title in a row.
In volleyball, the year holds the women’s and men’s world championships, between August and September, in Asia (Thailand and the Philippines).
There is also the duel between France and Brazil for the Davis Cup, in France, in January, the judo World Cup, in Hungary, in June, and the Copa América basketball, in Nicaragua, in August.
The calendar ends with the 15 km route through the streets of São Paulo in the São Silvestre Race, on December 31st.
Check below the start and end dates of the main events scheduled in the 2025 sports calendar.
